Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)
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Question 358: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the deteriorating humanitarian crisis on the Catatumbo region in north-eastern Colombia, where many thousands of people are being displaced by increased violence and human rights violations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30804/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The situation to which the Deputy refers relates to the recent intensification of violence in the Catatumbo region of north-eastern Colombia located close to the western border of Venezuela. This region has suffered greatly from violence throughout the period of internal strife in Colombia, compounded by resistance on the part of irregular armed groups to Government attempts to eradicate illegal coca cultivation. The UNHCR has registered an estimated 2,000 internally displaced persons from the Catatumbo region since the beginning of 2006.

Ireland, together with the EU, continues to monitor the humanitarian and human rights situation in Colombia. Real progress towards an improvement in the humanitarian and human rights situation of all the people of Colombia is most likely to be made in the context of a settlement of the internal armed conflict, with efforts to bring about an end to civil strife currently being undertaken within the framework of the Justice and Peace Law. In this regard, a recent EU Heads of Mission in Colombia report noted a positive trend of improvement in the human rights situation in Colombia, specifically in relation to the rights of internally displaced persons, with the reinforced application of the national legal framework resulting in a decrease in new displacements.

Ireland undertook in June 2005 a commitment to contribute €390,000 over a three year period to the Organization of American States' (OAS) peace and verification mission in Colombia, the second tranche of which (€130,000) is due to be released shortly. The mission's mandate is to provide comprehensive support to the Colombian peace process, with a focus both on the demobilisation process and on the strengthening of institutions concerned with the rule of law. I also attach the highest priority to the humanitarian and human rights dimension of the OAS mission's role. With this in mind, an additional €130,000 was given to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in December 2005 for the independent monitoring of human rights issues in support of the mission.

The EU has confirmed its readiness and that of its Member States to assist the Colombian government and civil society in the provision of support for communities affected by the internal conflict. It has also called on all parties to the conflict to respect human rights and international humanitarian law and commended the work of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) in Colombia. My Department will continue to monitor the situation in Colombia through our Embassy in Mexico City, as well as in cooperation with our EU partners with resident Embassies in Colombia.